Photo: Unknown author / CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Silver Carp
Freshwater
About this species
A silvery filter-feeding carp of large East Asian rivers, infamous in North America for leaping from the water. It strains plankton with fine gill rakers and rarely takes a hook, so it is often targeted by snagging or specialized methods. It grows heavy and fast.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
1 – 10 m
Habitat Spots
RiverLakeReservoir
Fishing Methods
FloatBottom
Bait & Rig
Suspended dough or paste baits fished under a float in the upper water column.
Edibility & Taste
Widely eaten in East Asia despite many small bones; often used in fish balls.
Similar Species
Told from bighead carp by its silver color and low-set upturned eyes.
Record Weight
27 kg